Journal of Near-Death Studies, volume 10, issue 4
Motifs of Passage into Worlds Imaginary and Fantastic
Green, F. G.
In this paper I match phenomena associated with the passage into other worlds as reported during out-of-body and near-death experiences with imagery associated with the passage into other worlds as depicted in classic modern fantasies and fairy tales. Both sources include sensations of consciousness separating from the body, floating and flying, passage through fluidic spaces or dark tunnels toward bright lights, and emergence into supernatural worlds inhabited by souls of the deceased and by higher spiritual beings; and both describe comparable psychophysical initiatory factors. I introduce a metaphysically neutral depth psychology to explain these parallels, examine two metaphysically opposed extensions to this depth psychology, and consider several implications of a transcendental perspective.
